HOLYOKE — Five more cities are being added to the list of communities where National Guard troops will be driving children to school in the face of a national bus driver shortage.
The state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security announced Friday that Holyoke, Brockton, Framingham, Quincy and Woburn will join Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell and Lynn as part of the guard’s transportation mission.
Gov. Charlie Baker activated 250 National Guard troops Monday to provide assistance to cities unable to field enough school bus drivers to transport their student population.
Acting public safety secretary Terrence Reidy said more than 190 guard troops have completed driver training and are now certified “7D,” for van-sized school buses. In addition, 40 troops will provide operational support for the mission.
The school bus driver shortage comes as schools are returning to full-time classroom education after more than a year of remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state National Guard command structure said Baker’s activation order will not affect the guard’s ability to respond to other emergencies in the state.